Tuesday night, Kalisa and I ventured out on another vaccine reconnaissance mission and found the number of people planning to spend the night in line wasn’t nearly as long as the night before. Ruling out sleeping on the sidewalk, we agreed to give it a try early Wednesday morning.
We rendezvoused at 6:15 AM, set off to find the end of the line, discovered it was already a block and a half longer, reassured each other that we can do this, and joined the line. Armed with reading material, we set our stools down and prepared to wait for our first jab of the Pfizer vaccine. Eating wasn’t a problem, as vendors regularly came by with food and drink and Mercado IV Centenario was only a few steps away. As for the “call of nature,” public bathrooms are available at the Mercado and Jardín Socrates nearby and a few businesses along our route had signs reading, “Baños 5 pesos.”
We froze for the first 3 hours in the morning. The temperature was in the low 50s (Fahrenheit) and we both were wearing sandals, short sleeve cotton blouses, and only had cotton rebozos (shawls) to keep us warm. The vaccinations were scheduled to start at 8 AM but our line didn’t start moving until 11:30 AM. It turns out, they gave the people in line on Morelos a number when they stopped vaccinations at 5 PM the day before, so they got first priority, along with anyone in a wheelchair.
One of the enjoyable aspects of our ordeal was getting to know our neighbors in the queue. Like most, they were sons, daughters, and grandchildren holding places in line for elderly relatives. This is the ethos of Oaxaca! Once the sun rose above the buildings and began beating down on young and old, we all sweltered in 80+ degree (F) heat. Despite bringing sun hats, Kalisa and I succumbed to purchasing umbrellas from one of the vendors going up and down the line. Another enterprising vendor was selling plastic stools, but since we had brought our own, he ignored us.
Once the line actually started moving, it only took 2 hours to get to the Plaza de la Danza, where our paperwork was processed, we got the vaccine, waited in an observation area for 15 minutes, and then left for home. 7-1/2 hours, door to door.
We were lucky, as they ran out of vaccine by 3:30 PM and Thursday’s vaccinations at the Plaza de la Danza were canceled. More is supposed to arrive, but no one knows when. As for our second dose, we were told they will announce via media when it will be offered AND promised to be better organized. Keep your fingers crossed!
Mexican Peso Converter
View From Casita Colibrí 
This is such a heartening story, and the pics take you there to those hours of planning, getting to the end of the line, the people waiting in line, most saving places for elders, historic! I loved that vendors came through to assist with anything anyone might need, even umbrellas.
Congratulations on getting your first shot!!
Thank you! I already feel a bit of relief.
Glad you are halfway protected – you earned it. I pray that all who want vaccines will soon have them.
Gracias, I hope for that, too!
Congratulations…yours and many others patience paid off. Take care, Laurette and Jerry Gilbert
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Thank you! I know it’s a beginning, but already feel a bit of relief.
Thanks for the update.
You are welcome. Now to wait for the second dose…
It does get better when they get the kinks out….Phoenix was the same except there were cars stretched for city blocks instead of people standing!
I have no doubt that they will be better organized for the second dose! This is all so new and all over the world they are learning “on the fly!”
Lucky you. In Saskatchewan they are still only doing 80’s, Care Homes, maybe health workers. Not the rest of us 60s and 70s.
Yikes! Many of us (non Canadians) thought Canada would lead the way in North America. Take good care!
Congrats ! Patience has certainly paid off. Here in Ontario, those in 80’s being done presently.
Thanks, Archie! I hope the distribution of the vaccine in Ontario will quickly expand. Please, take care!
Congratulations, Shannon! I’ve heard from a few Oaxaca friends that they have gotten their first shot also. Woo hoo! Things are looking up! Pam and I just got our 2nd shot Saturday in Bangor, Maine and are looking forward to a road trip in a couple of weeks. We want to get back to Oaxaca and are glad to hear that vaccinations are happening and people are being protected!
Congratulations to you on your second dose! There is hope here, though a way to go. The concern is the many young foreign tourists/digital nomads who are refusing to wear masks and putting Oaxaqueños at higher risk.
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